How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?

He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.

Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.

And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;

And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;

For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.

His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.

He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;

Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.

A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

So he that goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.

Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry:

But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house.

He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul.

Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away.

For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,

For the man is not at home; He is gone a long journey:

He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon.

He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool;

On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,

When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.

He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.

He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth.

He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow therewith.

He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

He that is stedfast in righteousness'shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.

Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; But he that hateth reproof is brutish.

A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah; But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.

He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; But the precious substance of men is to the diligent.

He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

Poverty and shame'shall be to him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.

He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.

He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.

He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.

A fool despiseth his father's correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.

The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; And he that hateth reproof shall die.

Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!

A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.

All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.

A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.

A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!

To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.

Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.

He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.

Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

When a man's ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.